Participants' Accounts

A selection of first-hand accounts and comments from recent participants on our Enlightenment Intensives.

"As I write this I’m sitting in the corner of a slightly dim café/bar in a train station while I wait for the next train, and I’m almost crying simply because I have so much gratitude in my heart and I know who I am… hahahaha! What more can I say? I had no idea I could ever really be asked that question and be able to answer it with certainty. Unbelievable!

Quite simply, I have learned that pretty much everything I’ve ever heard or read by realised spiritual teachers about the experience of knowing who you are is absolutely true.

It can be understandably frustrating for practitioners to hear repeatedly that it is “Just so simple,” and “You’ve always known it but you just don’t know you know it,” and that “You can’t force it, it just comes when you’re not expecting it,” etc etc. But then of course that is exactly what happens, and you realise that there is nothing more they could possibly have said. It really is a cosmic joke. It really is so simple it is almost preposterous. It really was right there under my nose the whole bloody time yet I just couldn’t see it.

And no, there weren’t any fireworks, nor did angels come down from the heavens to applaud me, but I did have a startling “Aha!” moment, the kind of which I have read about so many times in spiritual texts, and I did feel elation and joy and a surge of sudden explosive emotion that made me sob quite unexpectedly, all of which feels more important to me than any ‘heaven and angels’ experience. Perhaps most importantly, it is worth any amount of effort or difficulty, and it is only just the beginning... there is so much more to know!

I’ve had glimpses of this truth numerous times in my life, and even a couple during the intensive before the breakthrough on the final day, but that it really was so simple and fleeting at the time that I couldn’t grasp or understand it. However, I believe those moments have always contributed to my need to seek my own truth, and I suspect that this is the case for many people; and while it may seem almost ridiculous that I didn’t see it before, I would say that these initial fleeting, ungraspable moments are crucial for anyone seeking the truth, and will undoubtedly lead to what we are all looking for if we persevere.

I have learned the true power of really listening, and of being fully open. There is no way I could ever have discovered what I did without this openness and connection during the intensive. I certainly did resist it a little on the first day, tending to withdraw into myself rather than maintaining this connection, but it was when I began to give everything to both the listening and the sense of trust and connection that things began to really open up for me.

I have learned that I’ve been far too forceful in my contemplations in life, and that one of the most valuable and greatest discoveries of this experience was that all I had to do was let go and simply allow whatever happens, as difficult as that may have been at first. It took me a long time to figure this one out, but better late than never!

I have learned that there is absolutely nothing to fear about figuring out who you really are, and that not only do you not lose any essential part of yourself, but you become more fully yourself than you have ever been before.

Finally, I have learned that the world would be truly changed quite dramatically and rapidly if everyone on the world had to do an EI or something very similar every now and then, and that there is probably no better thing you can do for any person than to simply truly listen to them and be as open as possible.

I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that this EI, and most likely all EIs, give to people something that is of the highest possible value, and I only wish that in the future more people will find their way to this wonderful process.”

— Sean —

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"I learned that I could have the direct experience of truth. I didn't think I could. I was very surprised at the very simple and reassuring way in which I had my experience – and by the sense that this was something I had known all along. And, more importantly, I learned about my need to surrender and trust life more than I have been able to thus far. My mind is very strong and would like to stay in control."

— Ayesha—

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"This was the first EI that I have participated in. I was very skeptical at first and all I can say is that it was the best experience of my life. I never imagined getting this much out of it.

I realised that I am not defined by my fears!! The fears are not real, they are memories my mind has stored from traumatic past events. I learned to always be present and speak/act from the true me – the person writing this!

Emma and Barry are amazing. They always knew what to say with their professional advice. The warmth and compassion both showed was very touching and I will never forget this experience."

— Lesley—

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"What a complete transformation has happened to me in the three years I have been participating on Enlightenment Intensives. Really - from wishing life would end to now being fully self expressive and passionate about every aspect of life."

— Stuart —

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"I have had my world turned inside out and upside down by truth. I have always wanted truth and this process blows me away. I can think of nothing else that has set me so totally free. How can I put into words what is without words? ... The structure was held so beautifully that when I really had no idea of myself I felt totally safe to fall to pieces. The care and attention was amazing and the integration process helped put something that felt so other-worldly into context in life."

— Amala —

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"Refreshing, releasing, relaxing, recharging, inspiring, fun, very serious, moving, delightful ... I loved the teaching, the food, the comfortable environment and the other participants. Thank you and bless you."

— Julian —

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"A total great amazing roller-coaster!! From grumpiness to blissfulness ... a beautiful process. The lectures were utterly motivational. They gave me the strength not to give up. Really encouraging to go deeper! Thank you!"

— Sanmukhi —

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"Amazing. Extremely difficult. I got a clearer sense than ever before of who I am, what I am going to do, what I need to do and the path to take. It reinvigorated me. One of the best experiences of my life. Fantastically well run and supported all round."

— Nicholas —

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"Absolutely fantastic! It provided far more than I was expecting. I have a clear personal mandate for the next year and also feel as though Intensves should be an integral part of my life! Words cannot expres my thanks to you both."

— Guy —

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"A journey from the mundane of routine life through the valley of despair to the warm glow of truth."

— Ed —

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"This has been the best Enlightenment Intensive I've ever been on, and that's saying something. (I must have attended somewhere in the region of 20 Intensives.) I was beautifully facilitated to get on with the job of finding out for myself who I am at my absolute core, and I did that. I am very grateful to the staff, who were invisible, perhaps more so than usual. There really was nothing else for me to put my attention on other than me. The master is one of my favourite people in the whole world so I'm hopelessly biased here, but I think she's one of the best masters in the world, so there you have it 😊 "

— Sally —

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"This was one of the best Intensives I have been on. I felt utterly safe, cared for, and truly inspired by the lectures. The house and surroundings added to the pleasure of the overall experience."

— Christine —

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"Using the technique over and over through the weekend, I was able to cross through my self-dislike and self-admonishment, and brush up against utter beauty. The utter beauty of myself, just the way I am. And the utter beauty of the absolute truth and its transformative power. Those sound like grand words but the exquisite, extraordinary delight I felt at those moments will change my life."

— Emma —

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"The Intensive was very well held with constant attentiveness to support our process, necessary for us to withstand the fear, boredom, pain, etc. The structure, food and rules are all designed to ensure our will is engaged. Care-taking I would rate as 10/10"

— Christine —

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"I really enjoyed this intensive. Even though there was always a resistance to share myself, the whole process felt amazing. My last intensive was a harder process but this time it just flew by. I enjoyed the structure, the support, not knowing the time; I wasn't exhausted, and I loved the environment and the walks. I felt perfectly taken care of. And I learned to be ok with how it went."

— Maxine —

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"Life changing. You were all amazingly selfless which is humbling to witness. Thinking about it has just made me feel love and realise that I am love, which has made me cry (again). It is an incredible service you do people in giving Enlightenment Intensives. Thank you so much."

— Stevie —

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"Life-changing. Gobsmacking. Confirming ⎯ in a way I never expected to happen ⎯ the existence of something divine and bigger than all of us, a force. I now know this to be true. And that the Absolute Truth is jaw-droppingly, eye-wideningly extraordinary, and will change everything about how I lead my life going forward. I wish such understanding of perfection, and of one's own value, to everyone."

— Emily —

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"Mind blowing. I discovered myself several times sitting or walking with my mouth open while thinking about the thing that had just made itself clear to me. Speechless. Fantastic. My gratitude for you, dear Emma and Barry, for enabling and allowing this Intensive to take place is enormous. Thank you So much!"

— Astrid —

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"A journey. Difficult at times, glorious at times, and intense! Significant in my life. Life changing."

— Julia —

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"Mind-blowing! Blown out of the ways - ah, the joys of no mind. I loved being here and am grateful for this opportunity to experience myself and others. I have understood so much about me and leave with faith."

—Domique —

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"I learned truths, first hand. Truths that I have read in books over and over without understanding or being able to truly believe. That I am perfect, right now, just as I am, with all my neuroses etc - and so is everyone else!!! And that you will find the truth inside yourself. Seek and ye shall find / ask and it shall be given."

—Tina —

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"The Truth is always here, always available. Although I knew that before in a way, this intensive made me realise that more than ever before. The Truth is a safe haven always waiting for me to surrender to it, so that it can embrace me in a warm hug of Love.

[I particularly valued] the professionalism and kindness of all the staff, always watchful, always ready to help, like divine guardians – silent and dedicated to guide us to the Truth. A big thank you. Your work is inspirational and touching and has impacted me deeply. There are no words which can express my respect to you."